Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Looking Back at the New Zealand Royal Tour 2014

     As the New Zealand portion of the Down Under tour wraps up, here is a day-by-look of the Royal Kiwi week that was. (For my earlier post regarding the arrival of Cambridge's, click here.)
Royal Standard of New Zealand
Wednesday, April 9th, 2014

     On this day, Prince George attended his first-ever official engagement as he joined his parents with a group of other children (in similar age to George) and their parents at Government House in Wellington.


     Billed by the press as a "royal play date" and the "most exclusive children's group" in the world, it was organized by the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, which was founded in 1907 by pediatrician Sir Frederic Truby King and granted the "Royal" title by King George V in June 1915. It provides support services for the caring, development, and well-being of children under the age of five, and the primary purpose of the visit was for the Duke and Duchess to recognize the work of the renowned organization.

     However, it also gave Prince George the chance to interact with other babies his age from different backgrounds, which is something his late grandmother, Diana, Princess of Wales would have approved. In all, there were 10 sets of parents and babies at the gathering, and among them included a Maori mother, Pacific island couple, a gay couple, and a single mom.


     On the occasion itself, Kate carried George around to introduce him to the various parents and children in the room, and he was later playing with the other children, genuinely appearing to be enjoying himself with the company around him. He crawled around on the floor and mixed with the other children and their parents on what could be classified as his first royal walkabout. Prince William was not far away, having conversations with parents, who like him, have recently had babies, and remarked: “It’s madness, there are babies everywhere.”

 
     Unfortunately, like almost any other eight-month old, George was not always in his best behavior. He was seen throwing a toy on the ground, and stole another one from another child in the room, which made the offended child cry, prompting Kate to comfort her. Following this incident, George had a toy stolen from him by one of the other children. He did not cry, but was given a basic lesson: treat others the way you want to be treated.
     At the end of the gathering, George received a Plunket Well Book with a message from the organization, as well as a Plunket Bear. 

     In all, it was fine day for George and his parents, who started off the New Zealand tour in a relaxed and informal fashion which was endearing to their future subjects. 

Thursday, April 10th

     If George’s day out was meant to be a public extension of family time, then the following day marked - to paraphrase Robert Jobson - the beginning of what Royal tour is really about: representing Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand. 

     On April 10th, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge traveled to the town of Blenheim, where they attended a wreath-laying ceremony as part of centennial commemorations for the outbreak of World War I, in which 100,444 New Zealanders fought for King and Country alongside their comrades throughout the British Empire.

      From there, William and Kate conducted their first royal walkabout of the New Zealand tour as they met with the crowds of people around Seymour Square – home to a park bench in memory William’s late mother Diana – in the heart of town. 

     They then traveled a short distance to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, where they toured the “Knights of The Sky” exhibition of World War I aircraft, a display by film director Sir Peter Jackson. Prince William certainly took a keen interest in the exhibit and looked in his element while occupying the seats of some of the vintage aircraft – having been trained as a pilot himself in the Royal Air Force, whilst Sir Peter was seen filming the occasion on his mobile device.

      Once again, the weather went a bit sour as it started to rain, but the visit went on undaunted as umbrellas and jackets were broken out, and at the end of it, the couple were given a pilot's helmet for Prince George.

     Back in Wellington, meetings were held with NZ Prime Minister John Key and the Leader of The Opposition David Cunliffe. That evening, the Duke and Duchess attended a State Reception held by Governor-General Jerry Mateparae at Government House, where the Duchess wore a black dress with a hand-knitted white fern, representing New Zealand’s floral emblem.

     William addressed the attendees with a heartfelt speech in which he expressed his happiness at being back in New Zealand – this time with his family. He also praised the country for its political institutions and democratic foundations – which were established under Queen Victoria, beginning with the Treaty of Waitangi – as well as its progressive attitudes which allowed it to become the first country to grant women the right to vote. The Duke also made a reference to Prince George, joking that he hoped his son would not keep the people up, and said that “he's known to be particularly vocal at 3AM.”

      Following this, the couple unveiled a new portrait of the Queen by local artist, Nick Cuthell, which portrays the monarch wearing a silver fern brooch which in William’s words, provided “a symbol with a clear reminder of Her Majesty's deep affection for New Zealand.” 

Friday, April 11th 

     On the following day, the Duke and Duchess started their day in Auckland, where they spent time with military families at the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) base at Whenuapai, which is home to more than a thousand serving airmen and women.
      From there, they traveled into the city center where they visited the base of Emirates Team New Zealand - the sailing team best known for their consecutive victories at America's Cup in 1995 and 2000. The Duke and Duchess boarded two of the team’s yachts, and engaged in two “informal” match races against each other in Auckland Harbor, with William and Kate at times taking control of the wheels of their respective yachts. Team Kate won both matches against Team William, and William took the twin losses like a good sport, though he blamed his team's loss on mechanical issues with the boat.

      He actually could have blamed the weather, which began as sunny and partly cloudy, then appeared to take a turn for the worse, but held thankfully held up as the days events went forward.

      At the end of the day, the Duke and Duchess sailed aboard a Sealegs craft to Westpark Marina, and it was from there that they returned to the RNZAF base and to Wellington to be back with Prince George, who received his own Sealegs craft as a gift.

Saturday, April 12th

     The next day began with the Duke and Duchess attending two different engagements in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. 

     In Hamilton, William visited the aircraft manufacturing company, Pacific Aerospace at Hamilton Airport, where he viewed a display of the company's PAC P-750 XSTOL aircraft and met with some children, one of whom he consoled after being stung by a bee. It was another aviation-themed visit for the RAF search-and-rescue veteran on this trip.

     Meanwhile, Kate visited Rainbow Place, New Zealand's only children's hospice, where she viewed a play therapy session, as well as met with the children, families and nursing staff. There was also an Alice in Wonderland-themed tea party, and some of the girls dressed up as princesses and one young girl said that she felt like a princess when Kate was around. In her conversations with the young people there, she was asked if she herself ate her vegetables and responded that she did, though admitted that “it was a problem getting George to eat” his vegetables.

      Having made hospice care one of her causes in the United Kingdom, the Duchess threw her support behind the creation of more hospices in New Zealand and throughout the greater region of Australasia.

     Following these engagements, the Cambridge's met up - rather appropriately - in Cambridge, where they paid their respects at the local war memorial and laid two roses at it, before travelling through the center of the town, which is named after Prince George, Duke of Cambridge, who was a cousin of Queen Victoria and the professional head of the British Army.

      From here, they traveled to the outskirts of Cambridge to formally open the brand new national velodrome, known as the Avantidrome. At the event, they met with several Kiwi Olympian athletes, including gold medalist Eric Murray, who commented on the "special link" that the country has with the Queen, and also said that the Duke and Duchess "want to get George into rowing because he’s got long legs."

     The couple also started several races, watched a bicycle motocross (BMX) display, and received a another gift for Prince George, this time a small bike.

     They also met with several thousand people that day on another walkabout as it seemed as though the entire town had emptied out to see them.

Sunday, April 13th 

     This day witnessed the Duke and Duchess heading down to New Zealand's South Island.

     Following the traditional Hongi greeting at the airport, they attended a Palm Sunday service at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul at Dunedin, and travel to the city’s famed Forsyth Barr Stadium to watch a festival of Rippa Rugby (a non-contact version of rugby). There, they coached - with assistance from native Kiwi's such as All Blacks captain Richie McCaw - their respective teams of young children on the field, and William managed to get his revenge for his yachting losses in Auckland when his Clutha team triumphed over Kate's Pirates with a score of 30-20.

      From Dunedin, the couple flew to Queenstown for the late afternoon, where they took part in wine tasting at the famous Amisfield Winery and toured its vineyard. Around 20 samples from local producers were provided to the couple, and Kate commented that though she is not a keen wine taster like William, she has been taking in a few glasses since her pregnancy with Prince George. 

      The couple then journeyed to the Shotover River to experience the thrill of the Shotover Jet, an extremely fast jet-powered boat that reached speeds of up to 52 MPH as the couple joined several other people for the 25 minute ride, which included riding up against rocky shores and a 360 degree turn that resulted in water being sprayed over everybody occupying the craft.

     At the end of this day, the Duke and Duchess stayed a night away from Prince George - the first of two such nights on this tour - at the Matakauri Lodge in Queenstown.

Monday, April 14th

     On the next day, the Duke and Duchess traveled to Christchurch, a town that is close to Prince William. He last visited it February 2011 just days after it had suffered from a massive earthquake that killed 85 people, and from which it is still recovering. The primary purpose of this trip was the witness the progress made so far and to understand the plans for the town's future.

     Upon arriving in Christchurch, they were taken to the city council building, were they received a traditional formal welcome from Ngai Tahu, and went on to view the work going on in the central business district. They also laid some stones in memory of the quake and its losses, and visited the Transitional Cathedral. William and Catherine also went on a walkabout in which they met several sets of twins, and were given several items, including gifts for Prince George and very notably, a balloon bouquet.

      The couple also joined with native cricketer Sir Richard Hadlee to mark the coming of the Cricket World Cup to Christchurch in 2015 by playing a round of cricket at Latimer Square, and they officially opened the Christchurch Botanical Visitors' Center by cutting a very impressive floral ribbon.

      At the Wigram Air Force Museum on the outskirts of Christchurch, William and Catherine viewed the plans for the current and future rebuilding of the city, and viewed the Memorial Wall dedicated to those in the Royal New Zealand Air Force who have died in the service of their country. They also unveiled a plaque recognising RNZAF personnel that have served in peacekeeping missions.

      This was the last full day of official engagements in New Zealand for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. They returned to Wellington to be with Prince George for a day of rest on April 15th, before heading out to visit the Royal New Zealand Police College and then signing the City of Wellington's visitor's book on the 16th.

     At the conclusion of this, the royal party will say farewell to New Zealand and cross over the water to begin the Australian leg of their tour.

      In all, this Royal tour of New Zealand has been a success, for it has shown that the monarchy retains currency in this far-away realm of the Queen, with crowds in their thousands turning out to meet their Royal family. Prince George in particular has proved to be very popular with his first engagement mingling with other children at his age, and his parents have been nothing but exemplary in the way that they have performed their duties on behalf of the Queen of New Zealand. Hopefully, they will do more of the same as the Australian half of this tour gets underway.


Photo Credit: Captured screen shots and embeds from Twitter.
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